India and Spain signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in rail transport. The MoU is expected to enhance collaboration in planning, deployment, operations and maintenance of conventional and high-speed railways.
The agreement was signed in Vadodara between the Ministry of Railways and Spain’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility. This is part of the visit to India by Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, who is accompanied by Oscar Puente, Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.
Madrid believes that this document, which also looks at optimizing existing Railway infrastructure, and promotes intermodality confirms the growing good relationship between the two countries.
The initial validity period will be five-years, and the renewal will be automatic. The areas of cooperation include planning, design and development, construction, startup and operation of infrastructures, stations, railway facilities, and equipment for long distance networks (conventional and high-speed), as well as the integration of services that circulate through them. This includes making traffic possible with different track gauges and maximising the benefits of investment in high-speed line improvements.
The MoU also includes management and operation of rail services, rail transport, and train maintenance with a special focus on improving safety. It supports the selection and deployment of on-board equipment and ground-based equipment for the European Rail Traffic Management System. It also promotes training initiatives that strengthen the vocational training in the fields of development and maintenance, railway infrastructure, and facilities as well as the management of railway operations.
India and Spain have agreed to celebrate 2026 the India-Spain Year of Culture and Tourism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Spanish innovators and industries to collaborate with India. He celebrated cultural ties as well as recent joint projects. This included the inauguration of TATA Aircraft Complex, which manufactures military aircraft in Vadodara.
In the framework of the MoU India and Spain can cooperate in the exchange of good practice and development of pilot project; Technical advice and support in the development and implementation of projects; Innovation, research, technological development, and organisation of conferences, meetings, and seminars; and training and exchange programs for experts.
“These are areas where Spain and Spanish companies are very experienced, as they are on the cutting edge of international industry.”
Spain has the world’s second largest high-speed rail network, which connects 70% of the population.
Sanchez is the first Spanish president to make an official visit to India in 18 years. The Joint Declaration, signed by the two leaders at Vadodara, will serve as a guide for the next few years in the fields of political, economic, commercial, cultural and scientific, technological innovation, consular, tourism, and people-topeople relations.
In 2026, it was also agreed to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Spain by jointly organising the Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence.
The celebration of the India and Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence 2026 is a good example of the energy that both countries wish to put into this relationship. When both countries work together, our voice and influence in this world are multiplied,” the Spanish president posted on X when he arrived in Mumbai for the second leg of a two-day visit.
